Indie Lee: the most inspiring beauty brand EVER?

"I had six months to live." The beauty brand born out of one woman's shock diagnosis

It's not the nicest thing to consider; what you would do if you were told you had six months to live. Go on the trip of a lifetime? Spend more time with your friends and family? Hide under the duvet and cry a lot?

Indie Lee - a happy-go-lucky American - had a very clear plan of action when her doctor delivered the devastating news of a rare brain tumour that could kill her in six months: brain surgery, plus the birth of a brand-new skincare line.

Following her diagnosis, Indie became very aware of the chemicals she was putting on her skin, so began mixing up natural ingredients from her green house to create non-toxic formulations that really worked. She was also determined to make the packaging as luxe as possible, pointing out: "I'm not a crunchy granola kind of person."

She now sources the finest ingredients from around the world and as a result, her eco-luxe range has become a big hit in the US. Hero products include the Squalane Facial Oil, £22 (the body naturally produces squalane to keep skin looking young, but production starts to decline in a person's mid to late twenties), and the Calendula Eye Balm, £26, with skin-loving ingredients such as mango butter, beeswax and lavender oil.

And the brain tumour? Indie's surgery was a success, and she now insists that her diagnosis was the best thing that ever happened to her due to a new lease of life. We can't all claim to be that positive in times of adversity, but the Indie Lee skincare range is proof that sometimes, good things come out of bad situations.

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